Physicists don't claim that the material universe came from nothing. That is a position of 30 years ago. Very few say this any longer, though some aggressive physicists still go there (probably to rile up folks).

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only altered in form.

That means that matter can indeed come into being from energy, and it did so some 13.8 billion years ago.

Very disappointing, Glenn, that you are using a great story about a smart nine-year old as a vehicle to not be scientific yourself.